What is AcquiSourcing? (Sourcing Is Dead)

The recent economic tsunami has contributed to more cautiousness in the workforce about changing employers.

No matter how many people you "find" there is a severe drop-off in making a live connection with them and when you do - there is a distinct downturn in those who may be interested in making a career "move."

Companies are deciding in many instances it's a better idea to buy the cow than milk her. This is called "acquihiring" (acquisition + hiring) and is occurring (in some instances) just to purchase intact workforces!

This is becoming increasingly important in tech as companies recognize that development efforts are enhanced by a team that already works well together.

One of the more challenging areas in AcquiHiring is search. AcquiSourcing (acquisition + sourcing) identifies suitable potential companies that are interested in having a conversation (about being acquired/partnering.)

Acquisourcing is a process that identifies a potential acquisition candidate followed by a live approach to the owner(s) with an inquiry as to their interest in being acquired by (or partnering with) another company.

Anyone versed in sales will tell you a live approach will reveal all sorts of things and it is not uncommon, when approaching owners, for them to tell you they're not so much interested in selling (but few owners turn away discussions about their businesses) but would be interested in buying.

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"Small" business probably isn't what you're thinking it is.

The U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy defines a small business as an independent business having fewer than 500 employees and/or $7 Million in annual receipts. These are the primary size standards for most industries.*Source

Small businesses in the United States hire 43% of high tech workers (scientists, engineers, computer programmers, and others.) *Source

There are about 27 million small businesses in America; about 25% of these have employees.

Small business accounts for between 1/3 and 1/2 of all employment in the U.S. (42.7 Million out of 120.6 Million)

About 1/4 of the economic activity in most states in the U.S. is attributable to small business ($7.8 Trillion out of $29.7 Trillion)

Small business pays about 1/3 of all U.S. payrolls ($1.5 Trillion out of $5 Trillion) *Source

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There's a subtle art (and science) to acquisourcing just as there is in phone sourcing*.

If you (truly) believe people are a true strategic advantage and you want to hire (or buy) the best use phone sourcing or acquisourcing to do it!

It is the only way to identify whole teams inside an organization - the greater majority of almost any team inside any organization does not have an Internet exhaust among its members large enough to identify the team online.